Martial law victims to receive P50K in January

MANILA, Philippines - Human rights victims during the martial law era are set to receive for the second time a monetary compensation for the abuses they experienced during the Marcos regime.

Commission on Human Rights Chair Loretta Ann Rosales said a monetary benefit of P50,000 will be given on Jan. 27 next year to the martial law victims. The amount will come from the $10-million settlement over the illegal sale of an 1899 Claude Monet painting Imelda Marcos previously owned.

Rosales said in 2010, the New York District Attorney indicted Marcos's former assistant Vilma Bautista for illegally selling the painting. She added that the monetary benefit is part of the compensation ordered in 1994 by the Hawaii District Court. The first $1,000 was given to the victims in 2011.

The money will be given to the martial law victims personally over a period of eight weeks.

Zenaida Mique, an official from the Marcos human rights class suit, said the group welcomes the good news and that they are hoping the Claim Board that will look into the human rights violations claims during the Marcos regime would be formed soon by President Benigno S. Aquino III.